Apparatus for treating photographic prints and the like.



v w. E. SWALM & A EQSEXTON.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-12. I915- Patented June 4, 1918.

3 lm v r THY IR ATTEIREY' 7 AM. n

WITNESS S M WILLIAM E. SWALM AND ARTHUR E. SEXTON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed October 12, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM E. SWALM and ARTHUR E. SnXroN, both citizens of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Treating Photographic Prints and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for treating photographic prints and the like, and more particularly to apparatus by means of which a plurality of such prints may be, at the same time, subjected. to the modifying action of a fluid which is passed over the surfaces of the prints; the handling of large numbers of photographic prints during the steps required for their completion, as ordinarily carried on, is very tedious, as great care is necessary to expose all surfaces to the modifying influence or action of the fluids with which such prints are successively treated, as, for instance, in the final washing of the prints, every trace of the sodium hyposulfite used in the previous fixing step must be washed out of the prints, and the handling of the prints to insure sulficient exposure to the action of the washing water consumes much time.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided whereby a plurality of prints are held by one edge of each and with each of such edges spaced slightly apart and in such position that a fluid supplied by suitable fluid-supply means may enter the spaces between the edges of adjacent prints so held and be passed over surfaces of the same to modify the prints, or a surface or the surfaces thereof. Provision is made to confine the modifying fluid to paths of travel in films or sheets over such surfaces and in certain cases provision is made for retention of enough of the fluid in a suitable receptable, in which the the prints are treated, to completely submerge the prints during the modifying action.

The invention has for its object to provide apparatu of the general character stated which will be superior in point of relative simplicity and inexpensiveness of construction, combined with positiveness and efficiency of operation, compactness in form, freedol'u. from liability to get out of order. and which will be generally superior in effisiency and. serviceability.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 55,388.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, construction, formation, combination and relative arrangement of parts, members, and features, all as hereinafter described, shown in the drawing and finally pointed out in claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of apparatus constructed and organized in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view taken on the line w 00 Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the appended arrows, the view being on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line m w Fig. 2, and. looking in the direction of the appended arrows;

Fig. 4: is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on the line m a:*, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the appended arrows; and

Fig. 5 is an isometric detail view of certain features of the invention.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the same reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawing, in the embodiment of the invention therein shown, A designates holding means for a plurality of prints a,B designates fluid supply means, G designates a receptacle for a circulating fluid, D designates retarding means for the fluid, and E designates a fluid-discharge duct.

The holding means A preferably comprises a U-shaped frame 6 suspended from a handle member 7 by means of links 8 provided one at each end of said handle member 7, a plurality of clamping members 9, each suspended from aid handle member 7 by links 10, one of which is provided at each end of the clamping members 9, and a closure member 11 adapted to bridge the U- shaped member 6 and be latched thereto by means of spring catches 12, one of which" is provided at each terminus of the U-shaped member. The clamping members 9 are se' cured to the handle member through their respective links 10 and by means of pivots 13 passing through the ends of the links 10, the ends of the links 8 and into the handle member 7. The links 8 and. 10 may be twisted to conserve space, and may overlie each other, thus permitting the use of bars of rectangular cross-section in fog the Patented June 4, 1918.

linksv and avoidingga cumbersome structure. When the closure 11 is in place all of the clamping members are in position in the U- shapedi rame 6 and thesheets of paper or photographic prints may be each. separated,

a clamping member 'co-acting with the out standing projections 9 upon the next adjacent clamping member and gripping the paper or sheets to securely hold the same in position, leaving a space for the fluid to passthrough the holding means on each side of thesheetsso-held.

The supply means B preferably comprises-a fluid supply pipe or conduit 1A which'may be valvecontrolled, as: at and enter the receptacle 6 in such manner that the fluid. supplied will pass through the spaces, between the holder members 9 and the sheets: or prints held thereby. A guide Pill3t1l1i6- provided in the. receptacle C assists in the distribution of the fluid over the surface of the holder; 7

The fluid receptacle C preferably comprises a tank havingcside walls 17 and 17*, end walls 18 and I89, a. bottom wall 192,. and

an apertnred partition 20; dividing the receptacle into. an uppercompartment 0 and. a: letter; compartment 65, the; partition QOser ing also. as a support for the holdingiiieamsiA.- Theprintsiw project, and, in the. embodiment ot the; invention illustrated,

depend,.f-1zom.the holding means through theiaperture 20?- in the partition 20.. The

guideimiember 16, beneath. which thesupply conduit 14 terminates, is. arranged to lie againstthe; wall 18' of: the tank at. its upperend; where itis. caught: under a rabbetedistrip lti 'secured to the, wall 18 and from whichgstripr it inclines downwardly andinwardly toward. the aperture 20 in the partition-20l A similar guide member 16Lis arranged. with its..- upper end lying against. the. wallflS of the tank from where it inclines downwardly toward the opening 20 inthe; partition, being provided at its lower end with apro-jection 16 of such length that the projection will engage wall 18" when the guide-member is in place. A

heavy wire spacing .frame- 21, to which thelower-iends of the members 16-and 16 are secured, holds such members in the proper position; andpermits removal of the same due toflexiloility of the wire, when the memb r 1-6.? is drawn upwardly to remove the same from thereceptacle. The wedging action of: the; member 1 16!, through the wire frame member 21 upon; the member l6'when replacing the same, is apparent. A washer or packing member 22., provided. with an orifice 22, is interposed between the members 16, 16, wire frame 21, and holding means A, on the one hand, and the partition. 20 on the other. I

The retarding means D comprises, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, a removable plug or valve 6, and an upwardly ranging conduit 23- connected withthe fluid receptacle C through an aperture 19 provided intliebott01n wall 19, and extending upwardly to the level at which it is desired to maintain the liquid in the apparatus, an overflow orifice 23 being provided at such level so that liquid may bev discharged through the discharge pipe E with which the conduit communicates through the orifice 23 An orifice 24 is provided? in. the wall 24 of the conduit 23 at the'lowermost point in such conduit, and a plug-1e is arranged to close the orifice 24, a stem 25v being provided by means of which the plug 6 may be removed from the orifice to. permit; drainage of the receptacle G. A knob 25. having a downwardily ranging projection 25P- isprovided on. the end of the.

stem 25. and a notch 26 adapted to receive the stem 25 is provided at. the upper end of the conduit, so that the plug may be held out. of the orifice 2% by the seating of the projection 25. on the top of the conduit walls when the plug is raisedhigh enough topass the stem 25 i nto. the notch 26;

The discharge pipe E preferably parallels the'conduit-23. for-a portion of its length and terminates in. a chamber 27 below the plug or valve 6 at the lowermost portion of the-conduit wall, sothat when-theplug e isin raised position it. willnot be necessary. for the fluid to. escape from the conduit-- through, the orifice 23 to the discharge pipe. E, but. it may passdirectly into. the dis.- charge pipe. throughthe orifice 24*- in heocondluitwwall and out of the apparatus through a suitable drainpipe 28 with which the discharge pipe issuitablywconnected at its lowermost portion, In the drawing the discharge- E andthcpconduit D are. shown:

as provided for; in the construction of the tankat the wall 18 though it willbe understood that separate pipes. suitably connected may be employed. Slightly above the; wall 1930i the. tank; a shield 29/is pro-w vided to prevent the fluidfrom rushing di-' rectly out through the orifice 19 and I this shield is-preferably formed ofa strip rang ing between the end walls of thetank and bent to. slope.- downwardly toward. the side walls of the tank, so that the-fluid in passingout of the receptacle or-tanlrmust travel toward the side walls. and under the. edges of the shield to theorifice 19. A duct 30 passes through the partition; 20 and-eonnects the lower compartment def the tank with the normal atmosphere at a point above the liquid level in the apparatus.

The operation, method of use and advantages of the improved apparatus will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and the following statement: I I

If, for instance, it is desired to wash a number of photographic prints, they are placed in holding means or holders such as A by first releasing closure 11 from the latches 12, whereupon all of the members 9 may be moved out of the U-shaped frame and a print placed with one edge against such frame and the first of the series of members 9 placed over the print and another print placed over the holder, it being in turn clamped by the next holder of the series, and so on until the holder is filled, one print being held between each member 9 and the next adjacent member 9 or the frame 6 or the closure 11. When all of the members are in the U-shaped frame the closure is snapped into place binding the mass of prints in the holder. All this may be conveniently performed in the dark room and with the holder and prints submerged in whatever photographic bath they may be in during the clamping stage, with the prints lying flat one upon the other save where they are separated at the edges by theholders. After a holder has been filled as described the prints will stick together and may easily be re moved from the bath and introduced through the aperture 20 in the partition 20 of the receptacle C where they will be suspended by the holder which rests with its edges on the partition. The receptacle is empty when the prints are introduced therein, and after positioning of the prints, the plug 6 closing the orifice 24*, the fluid with which the prints are to be washed or otherwise treated is admitted by opening the valve of the fluid supply means B. The fluid rising in the upper compartment 0 finds its way. through the spaces between the holders and the prints and flows over the surfaces of the prints into the lower compartment cl. As the liquid level in the lower compartment rises it permits separation of the portions of the sheets which are massed together and in superficial contact with each other and causes divergence of the sheets or prints. The liquid level rises until it reaches the orifice 23 in the Wall of the conduit 23, which orifice is preferably high enough to insure receptacle C filling with liquid to a point above the handle member 7, which may thus also be subjected to the cleansing action of the liquid. The rate of liquid flow over the surfaces of the sheets or prints may be regulated by the valve 15 of the fluid-supply means B, and the prints a remain separated, diverging toward their free ends as long as the flow or circulation of liquid is maintained. After the prints have been thoroughly washed or sufliciently treated, the fluid may be shut off by means of the valve 15 and the plug 6 raised to permit the drainage of the receptacle, after which the prints may be removed by means of the holder, and a new batch inserted.

It is manifest that manyvariations may be made, departing from the specific disclosures herein, both as to construction of apparatus and employment of fluids of various natures, without departing from the spirit of this invention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus disclosed our invention, we claim and deslre to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In apparatus of the character disclosed, means for holding a plurality of prints or the like by only one edge of each and with each edge held in spaced relation to one edge of the next adjacent print, said means being constructed to allow fluid to flow therethrough and over the surfaces of the prints, and means for so supplying a flowing fluid.

2. In apparatus of the character disclosed, means for positioning in the path of a circulatin fluid a plurality of prints or the like he (1 by only one edge of each and with the edges disposed in spaced relation to one another, and means for supplying a flowing fluid to a point above the holdin means, said means being constructed to al ow fluid to pass therethrough and over the prints held thereby.

3. In apparatus of the character disclosed, means for positioning in the path of a circulating fluid a plurality of prints or the like each held by only one edge and with such held edges each in spaced relation to one edge of the next adjacent print, and means for supplying a moving fluid; said positioning means comprising a plurality of spacer members adapted to alternate with the prints, means for directing the cireulating fluid to a point over the print holding means whereby said fluid will pass through said means and over said prints, and means for securing said members in clamping position on said prints and whereby said prints are permitted to diverge toward their free ends under the influence of said moving fluid.

4:. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a print-receiving tank having an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a print-holding device in the upper chamber for holding a plurality of prints in the lower chamber by one of their edges only and each with the edge so held in spaced relation to the edge of the next adjacent print, and means for supplying a fluid to said upper chamber.

5. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a print-receiving tank having an upper be held by one oftheir edges" orily' and. each with the edge so held in spaced relati'en to the edge of the next adjacent print, and means for supplying a fhiid to sai'd'npp'er chamber; said print-holding device being positioned in said upper chamber'andper- Ihitting the projectien of said'prints' into said lower chamber; said holding device comprising a plurality of spacern ember's adapted for insertion between the holding edges of the prints and permitting the flow of 'flilidbetween such edges. I I

7. In. apparatus ofthe character disclosed, a print-receiving tank having. an upper chamber and a lower chambena print-holding device whereby a pliirality of prints may beheld byone of their edges only and each With the edge so heldii spaced relation tog the edge of the nextadjacent" print, and n ppl ng fluid: to a pp chamber; said print-holding device being positioned in said upper chamber and permittingt the projection of said prints into said lower chamber saidholdingldevi'ce cone pris ng p u lit ffsi imembe p for insertion between the held; edges of "the age and permittihg the. saw of fluid; between such edges said 'ta'i lrand chamber be--. ing constructed to provide for a circulation f adv' u c- 8. In; appa gatus of the character disclosed,

a tank; a holder adapted to be positioned in' said tank and comprising spaced members adapted for'engageifient With one edge only offpririt's or; the'like and adapted to permit he w. o fl d tw en said, Spac "m bers hereb'y a "circulating may Wash the surfaces ef the prints soheld and dnrin such Wash ng a cjt tni cause the, divergence 0 the free ends thereof, and, Ineans forsupplying, a fluid between the spacer members.

9'. Iii apparatus Ofthe character disclosed, a tank, a 'ho'lder adap'ted'tlo be positipned, in

said tank and comprising spaced members adaptedfo'r engagement with one edge only of prints or the like and adapted to permit the flew of fluid between spaced mernbers whereby a circulating fi lidlnay was theisurf aces ofi prints solheld and during slich washing action caiise thedivergence of Witnesses C. B t-gran, H. B. Kine.

(topics of this patent may he obfaiiieddfor, five cents each, 05* addresing the fiem lr issjieaer 'oifllatenlts',

' washiaigtoq nfcgf t io n in, the. presence. 

